Asian Development Research Institute

The Himalayan region is facing a pressing environmental crisis marked by the rapid expansion of glacial lakes. This surge, primarily fueled by climate change and compounded by seismic activity and landslides, presents a severe threat to communities downstream. This chapter delves into the issue of glacial lake expansion, focusing particularly on glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Through a case study of the 2023 South Lhonak GLOF, which caused significant casualties and damage, the study extracts crucial insights for policy formulation. It emphasizes the need for a collaborative policy approach to tackle the expanding glacial lake problem. Drawing from past disasters, we underscore the increasing frequency and severity of GLOFs, supported by recent empirical studies, and examine the impact of the South Lhonak Lake GLOF on the Teesta River valley. This event underscores the urgency for policymakers to reassess existing risk assessment and disaster management frameworks. The chapter identifies the shortcomings in current glacial lake monitoring in the Himalayas and the lack of robust early warning systems as critical deficiencies that demand immediate attention. The primary objective of this chapter is to guide policy decisions aimed at reducing the vulnerability of Himalayan communities to GLOF incidents and fostering resilience in the face of environmental change.

El artículo se presenta como una revisión y descripción de diferentes experiencias de la comunidad patrimonial de lo que en Chile conocemos como “Canto a lo Poeta,” en relación con la archivística comunitaria. Primero, aportaremos antecedentes generales sobre el caso, y lo relacionaremos con su investidura y reconocimiento como patrimonio cultural en Chile. Luego se abordarán relaciones entre esta condición patrimonial de la práctica y la archivística comunitaria. La base empírica de nuestro análisis será una experiencia formativa de la comunidad, como es el Taller de Archivística Comunitaria para Cantores a lo Poeta. Posteriormente, se analiza esta experiencia de enseñanza-aprendizaje relativa a archivos comunitarios en diálogo con sus respectivas proyecciones y potencialidades tanto patrimoniales como archivísticas para, finalmente, caracterizar un eventual archivo comunitario de Canto a lo Poeta en cuanto proyecto para la comunidad.

BackgroundApigenin is known to have a broad-spectrum efficacy in oxidative stress and conditions due to inflammation, although weak absorption, fast metabolic rate and a fast elimination (systemic) limit the pharmacological efficacy of this drug. Hence, we propose the usage of highly bioavailable Apigenin-solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNPs) to recognize such limitations. The defensive function of Apigenin-SLNPs on renal damage induced by streptozotocin (STZ) in animals was studied.Materials and MethodsWe initially injected the rats with 35 mg kg−1 streptozocin intraperitoneally, and after 7 days, the rats were then injected 150 mg kg−1 of metformin intragastrically followed by a once-daily intragastric dose of Apigenin-SLNP (25 or 50 mg kg−1) for a continuous period of 30 days. We then measured the level of insulin and blood glucose, superoxide dismutase, catalase and malondialdehyde in the tissues of the kidney. We also observed messenger-RNA expression of Interleukin-1β, Interleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha in renal tissue through RT-PCR technique. Moreover, H&E staining and Western blotting observed the histopathological variations and protein expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase/Nuclear Factor-κB signaling pathway, respectively.ResultsAn enhancement in the expressing of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and heme oxygenase-1 and a suppression in the expression of Nuclear Factor-κB occurred due to Apigenin-SLNPs treatment, which was a result of the protective mechanism of Apigenin-SLNPs which is because of not only its anti-inflammatory function (by inhibition of release of inflammatory factors) but also their anti-oxidant activity (through reduction of lipid peroxidation production).ConclusionWe found that a protective effect on diabetic nephropathy was shown due to Apigenin-SLNPs, in rats induced with streptozocin maybe through the pathway of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1/Nuclear Factor-κB.

Evidence suggests that the unorganised manufacturing units are extremely credit starved. The unavailability of credit for such firms could be a direct result of lack of documentation of property rights which in turn renders the assets of the firm non-collateralizable. The absence of this essential representation of assets, which includes machinery, building, even the land on which the firm is set up, leads to problems of moral hazard, giving rise to asymmetry in information thereby restricting the usability of physical assets in generating capital. We attempt to study the nature and extent of impact that absence of property rights has on the credit availability of informal firms in India and found improper documentation of property rights results in significant credit crunch for the unorganised production units. We also observed that under such constraint the small informal firms tend to work as outsourced units for other firms thereby leading to intra-country production reorganization.

Abstract Background Unacceptably high rate of childhood stunting for decades remained a puzzle in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. Despite various programmatic interventions, nearly half of the under-five children (numerically about 10 million) are still stunted in this resource-constrained state. Data and Methods Using four successive rounds of National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data spread over more than two decades and by employing quantile regressions and counterfactual decomposition (QR-CD), the present study aims to assess effects of various endowments as well as returns to those endowments in disparities in childhood stunting over the period. Results The results show that although child’s height-for-age Z-scores (HAZ) disparity was largely accounted for differing levels of endowments during earlier decade, in the later periods, inadequate access to the benefits from various development programmes was also found responsible for HAZ disparities. Moreover, effects of endowments and their returns vary across quantiles. We argue that apart from equalizing endowments, ensuring adequate access to different nutrition-centric programmes are essential to lessen the burden of childhood stunting. Conclusion The state must focus on intersectoral convergence of different schemes in the form of state nutrition mission, and, strengthen nutrition-centric policy processes and their political underpinnings to harness better dividend.

The fact that Bangladesh and West Bengal possess a common political and social history, language and culture to a large extent, a joint study of the two regions to understand son preference would be an interesting attempt. Comparative studies of the two regions have been undertaken to reveal how contraceptive use behaviour and its change are stimulated by more than just governmental policy.

Purpose: Bihar is one of the resource-constrained state in India. Health systems in Bihar is mixed and complex. Majority of people access health care from the private sector, although the cost is much higher. State government is trying to regulate the private sector by bringing policies aimed mainly at administrative control and barely at market harnessing methods. First regulatory policy was enacted in the year 2010 but couldn’t be implemented. Later, state government adopted the central act “The Clinical Establishment Act (CEA) in the year 2013. But, no private health facility could be registered, hence they continue to be unregulated. We adopted case study approach to understand successful regulatory framework and make recommendations for the Government of Bihar. Focus/Contents: Constitutional provisions in India mandates improvement in public health, nutritional status and right to life for all citizen as a responsibility of government. The health issue is under the jurisdiction of state government. Due to unregulated proliferation of mixed health systems, high inequity in access and low quality of care is most important challenge. Many factors contribute to this challenge, these are; limited role of government as steward, insufficient institutional arrangements, lack of motivation, the dominant role of doctors and professional associations in the overall political economy. All other countries, where regulation is successful have robust institutions, which is decentralized. All other states of India, where regulation is successfully used innovative approaches and harnessed technology to advance the implementation of legislation. Based on this review, we recommended the possible approach towards larger stewardship role of government in Bihar. The approach can be: a). The government must continue to focus on strengthening public health systems and b). Government must start regulating the private sector. Identified next steps were: Policy analysis of CEA, mapping of the private sector in health care, engaging the stakeholders, and policy mapping to explore options to constructively engage the private sector. Significance for sub-theme area /field building dimensions: We adopted this unique strategy for motivating and developing the capacity of local government for ensuring effective regulation. Co-planning with state-level policymakers was done by rounds of meeting to identify steps for future research and policy action. Co-designing of research focus with policymakers turned out to be suitable health policy and systems research approach for complex issues. Target audience: The target audience for this study was the department of health in the state of Bihar. Approach to build stewardship capacity can be replicated in other similar settings.